Friday 18 March 2016 19:52, UK
Joseph Parker's promoter has revealed he made an offer to Shannon Briggs and believes the American is 'running' from his unbeaten fighter.
Briggs has been pursuing a big-name bout and travelled to Britain this week to issue a challenge to David Haye, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
But Dean Lonergan, who promotes the unbeaten contender Parker, insists he has been trying to arrange a fight with Briggs for over a year and received no response from the former WBO champion.
Parker's top priority is a final eliminator for the IBF title against Carlos Takam in May, although he remains willing to battle Briggs in the future.
"Shannon Briggs has been running from Joseph Parker for the last year-and-a-half," Lonergan told Sky Sports. "I've been trying to track Shannon down and he just will not talk to me, because he knows that Joseph Parker would knock him out inside five rounds. He will just not talk, because he doesn't want to take the fight.
Instead of let's go champ, it was no go champ!
"He's running around right now, calling every man and his dog out. A year ago it was Wladimir Klitschko, now he's calling out all the English guys, because he's desperately trying to get a pay day.
"Tell Shannon Briggs that once we finish up with Carlos Takam, we might give him a crack at Joseph, but I think he will run a millions miles, because he knows Joseph can really fight. Instead of let's go champ, it was no go champ!
"When Joseph was sparring with Wladimir Klitschko, Shannon Briggs was in the same gym and he was talking to (Parker's trainer) Kevin Barry, 'I've been getting your promoter's texts, but I ain't fighting Joe!'"
Promoter Jesse Robinson, a member of Briggs' team in London, insists 'The Cannon' could include Parker in his own plans.
"All these types of guys, that's no problem," said Robinson. "We've got to take charge of our business right here and if he's the name on the list, we can check him too. He can be on the hit list."
Dereck Chisora's upcoming European title clash with Kubrat Pulev also serves as an IBF title eliminator, but Lonergan has warned the pair have 'no chance' of jumping ahead of Parker in the queue.
Parker and Takam will fight for the right to be mandatory challenger for the IBF strap and the champion Charles Martin will make his first defence against Anthony Joshua at the O2 in London on April 9, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
"I personally think Anthony Joshua is going to win it and win it well," said Lonergan. "The big question about Charles Martin is: 'can he really fight?'
"We're going to find out in April, because we all know Anthony Joshua can fight and it's going to be fascinating to see how Charles Martin, steps up even though he is the champion."
